Saudi's transfer $100 million for US efforts against the Islamic State during Pompeo visit

Saudi Arabia transferred $100m to the State Department during Mike Pompeo's visit

During US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit Riyadh to discuss the likely death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi following his mysterious disappearance, Saudi Arabia donated $100 million to the State Department for United States' efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, according to reports.

Despite the transfer of fund being approved in early summer, the timing of the large amount of money clearing, just as the Khashoggi crisis deepens, is arousing suspicion from critics.

Speaking to the New York Times, a US official said: “the timing of this is no coincidence.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the US State Department envoy for the anti-IS coalition, Brett McGurk, said that they “expected the contribution to be finalized in the fall time frame.”

“The specific transfer of funds has been long in process and has nothing to do with other events or the secretary’s visit."

According to Middle East Eye, the White House has not seemed alarmed amid a barrage of questions about Khashoggi's disappearance, what Saudi officials know about it and its close ties to Saudi rulers and the country's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in particular.

US President Donald Trump has called for people to give the Saudis the benefit of the doubt, stressing Washington's business and geopolitical interests in staying close to Riyadh.

Trump tweeted that he spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who "totally denied any knowledge of what took place" in Istanbul.

Trump said MBS told him "that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter."

After Pompeo's meetings with the king and crown prince on Tuesday, Pompeo said Saudi Arabia has committed to conducting a full investigation.

Asked whether they said Khashoggi was alive or dead, Pompeo said: "They didn't talk about any of the facts."